Wednesday, October 20, 2010

I was inspired upon reading the 1950 report to the messengers of the General Association of Baptists in KY (now the KBC) of the late A. M. Vollmer, executive secretary of the KBF. His message is timeless, and therefore, I share a portion with you verbatim in its 1950s language.

“Men with limited intelligence may make money and men without intelligence may inherit money, but it takes men of keen intellect to rightly use money. It is hard to battle against money lust. It requires strength and courage. It is really the use of possessions that reveals character. What a man does with what he has tells the story of what he is.

Failure to make good use of possessions is folly. God called a man who accumulated large sums, enlarged barns, and made no provision for the future a ‘fool.’ George F. Johnson, a great shoe manufacturer, said ‘To die rich is a disgrace.’ It is the equivalent to failing at a very vital point in life.

Men and women who are blessed with earthly possessions have serious responsibilities. Great wisdom, cautious consideration and a keen Christian conscience should be used in planning for the future of these possessions. The one who fails at this point will lose the power of Christian testimony. He will soon be forgotten by succeeding generations. Failure in an opportunity for doing good can weaken prospects of a reward in heaven.

He who makes good use of possessions will show strength of character, sincerity of caution, and leave a powerful Christian testimony for succeeding generations by doing good in the world until the Lord comes again and will win a rich reward in the final reckoning day….

There is every reason why every Baptist should give serious consideration to the matter of placing his Lord’s money in that place where its usefulness will never cease and its testimony to the loyalty of the donor will never die…. The cry of a lost and dying world urges them to do it.”

Friday, October 8, 2010

Christian higher education is more essential to our culture today than it ever has been.

And how fortunate we Kentucky Baptists are to be in relationship with three quality Christian higher education institutions: Campbellsville University, University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College.

The leaders of each of these schools take seriously the unique calling of Christian higher education (a) to encourage and model biblical morality for a generation that has grown up in moral relativism; (b) to articulate and defend the biblical worldview for a generation that has grown up in spiritual pluralism; and (c) to equip disciples who will manifest a faithful presence at the highest levels of influence for a polarized and embittered culture.

As Jim Denison, president of the Center for Informed Faith, recently reminded Baptist college administrations, "Remember you serve a King who is building His kingdom through you. These are not our schools, but His. We join Him as He works to draw them to Himself and to use them for His greater glory."

Christian higher education has at its core Christ, who is truth. You can be pleased our three institutions approach their missions with a commitment to holistic education, nurturing the intellect, shaping and molding the heart and soul, modeling servanthood as a way of life, and touching our neighbors throughout the world with a touch of God's love.

Paul Corts, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, recently observed that today as most of higher education in America has lost its way and deserted its heritage of faith, losing sight of its reason for being, we can be thankful to be the beneficiaries of those faithful stewards who followed the admonition of scripture to preserve and grow "the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3).

Why not consider making a legacy gift for the benefit of these three institutions to perpetuate that scriptural admonition? Call us for assistance.

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